West Indies Champions beat England by nine wickets to win World Championship of Legends

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates. Lendl Simmons and Chadwick Walton struck unbeaten half-centuries as the West Indies Champions beat England by nine wickets in the World Championship of Legends final at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The pair shared an unbroken stand of 124, guiding the West Indies to 160 for one with 18 balls to spare after England had posted 159 for seven.

Bravo strikes early

Sent in to bat, England struggled as Dwayne Bravo took three wickets to leave them on 61 for five in the 10th over.

Moeen Ali led the recovery with 60 off 39 balls, including four sixes and four fours, adding 54 for the sixth wicket with Owais Shah. Ali fell to Reifer in the 15th over, but Shah finished unbeaten on 38 off 28 balls, adding 28 in an unbroken partnership with Toby Roland-Jones.

Simmons and Walton take control

Chris Gayle and Simmons put on 42 inside the first six overs before Ajmal Shahzad removed Gayle for 21 off 14 balls.

Simmons and Walton then took charge. Simmons hit an unbeaten 77 off 53 balls with eight fours and three sixes, while Walton made 58 not out from 35 balls, with four sixes and three fours.

Walton was named Batter of the Tournament, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul received the Legend of the Tournament award.

"Means so much to the Caribbean people"

Gayle said the win would be celebrated by cricket fans across the Caribbean.

"I'm absolutely delighted for the guys. England played brilliantly, and I want to congratulate them," he said.

"This victory means so much to the Caribbean people, especially after the West Indies T20I team drew 2-2 with India," he added.